Belgrade softball aims to get back to championship form

BELGRADE, Mont. — Belgrade High School has been a powerhouse of Montana softball in the 21st century. The last time the Panthers missed the state tournament was 2006, but the team couldn't win its first championship until head coach Joey Roberts arrived in 2017.

Belgrade won three straight in Class A from 2017 to 2019 with Roberts as an assistant coach, but when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Roberts became the head coach and led the Panthers to their fourth straight and first in Class AA in 2021.

However, since that 2021 championship, Belgrade has gone 2-4 in the state tournament, including an 0-2 early exit in 2023.

Now, with a young roster, the Panthers are aiming to get back to being championship contenders.

"I love how things have looked the first couple of weeks," Roberts said about his team in the preseason. "We've had a great buy-in, girls are buying into the process and, you know, the mentality seems to be there, and we're really excited about just all the work they've put in."

The sophomore class will be carrying a heavy load for Belgrade, as the team has just seven upperclassmen -- four seniors and three juniors -- for the season.

"Showing them our team culture and that as we play as a team, it's definitely going to help them as they get older and just understanding that softball," Belgrade senior Brooklyn Ragland said. "You have to have a love for it and just keep growing and adapting."

Although it has been three seasons since the Panthers' most recent state championship, Ragland and fellow senior Ella Seaman are sharing that championship experience with their teammates in the hopes of leading them back to that game.

"Pressure on and pressure off, we're still playing the game," Seaman said about playing in the state championship. "Knowing that you have your teammates behind you makes it a lot easier, especially playing in that game with all of those seniors, I hope all the underclassmen feel the same way about us."

The team has more motivation to win it all than in previous seasons. The 2024 Class AA State Tournament will be hosted at Belgrade Softball Complex, giving the Panthers home field advantage.

"I think it's really motivating, and it's really exciting having that homefield advantage, also as a senior it's going to be really exciting going out on my home field," Seaman said.

However, in order to reach the state tournament, Belgrade needs to go through two months of action.

Weather in the Bozeman area affected the Panthers’ schedule. Belgrade was originally hosting Sentinel for its season opener on Tuesday, but the game was moved to Missoula.

"Just go out there and compete, take it one pitch at a time, and play for each other. Whatever your role is, I want to see the girls the best they can be in that role. Hopefully, we can keep pushing each other and working together, and hopefully, positive outcomes come our way."

The Panthers will be back home on Saturday against Helena Capital.